At last. The monster is ready to come home… Tomorrow.

Well, I can now confirm that the part(s) have landed and are being fitted to the little monster, meaning that I can collect it tomorrow. I could have pushed for this evening, but it would have been my luck for something else to break and delay the collection.

I will admit, I did apologise to the lad I was dealing with for being grumpy – but I think that he could understand my point of view. So, I will give them benefit of the doubt, but will be rather careful the next time the car has to go into them for any work.

Now all I have to do is hope that nothing else happens before I collect the monster – and more to the point make it up to Mum for the last three days of early starts… 

 Especially as I start work in Banbury at 08:30, so we have to leave home at about 07:35… The traffic is hell once you get into Banbury – reminded me of having to fight my way through Leamington – something I did for the last 18 years or so.

Ah well, time to call this quits – got things to do and people to annoy.

Back tomorrow – hopefully with the monster…

Karen

I gave no thought to wisdom

It all but vanished in the haze

This fragile hand of fortune

Had changed and turned it all to grey

Waiting for an update

As I type this, I am waiting for information on the monster.  Which is still with the dealership, waiting for the part to arrive.  

I don't think the car will be ready today, so it is yet another day that it hasn't been sorted.  I know that they have to wait for the part, but not being able to offer me a loan car either???

I pointed out that the issue with the bearing was one thing, but missing that the hub was damaged as well is unforgivable in my book. 

It wasn't like I hadn't warned the dealership.  I told them when I booked the car in that I had hit a pothole, so common sense dictates that you check the whole assembly - not just one part.

I understand that the loan cars are pre-booked.  Fair enough.  But not being able (or willing until I pushed the issue) to sort out a car for someone like me who is out of the area, and was expecting the car today...

And I have to admit I am somewhat disappointed with the lack of communication.  

If the dealership had kept me informed, I wouldn't be as angry / fustrated as I am now.  It seems to be me having to chase for updates - which was something I began to hate about Arbury....

I am expecting a call at 16:00.  Hopefully with good news, or the offer of a suitable loan car...

Back later with good news - I hope.

Karen

You always take the hard road
And people say you're a bad seed
Take the hard road
You always take the hard road
That's really something you don't need
Take the hard road

Yet another issue…

Just called the dealership to see how the car is getting on with fitting the new bearing, as I know it takes about 90min to fit.... 

And I have to wait another day, because they missed another issue – I’ve bent the wheel hub on the wheel that had the issue with the bearing.

Why this wasn’t found when the car was serviced, and the damaged bearing was being replaced is a question that I shall be asking when I finally pick the monster up. Hopefully tomorrow, but at the moment, I am *not* holding my breath.  

But as it stands, when I *do* pick the car up, I shall be asking questions along the lines of “why wasn’t this picked up when the car was serviced, and what about a discount for the inconvenience.  

Simply because I have been without the car for 2 days when I was told that this would be sorted out today. 

Luckily for me, I can get a lift, but that’s not the point. I was planning on getting the car this afternoon and was thinking that I may have struck lucky with the new dealership...

And this started all so well when I dropped the car in yesterday. I just hope this isn’t a sign of things to come, as this is starting to feel like déjà vu...

Back tomorrow – hopefully with good news.

Karen

In these days of no trust
Evermore hostility
We’re all living under the same old sky
We’re all telling the same old lie
In these days of no trust

The wheel bearing explodes

And no – I am not joking. I’ve just had a call from the dealership…

They went to fit the new bearing, and the dratted thing exploded – ball bearings everywhere – all across the workshop. So, the monster is out of service as they need to get the new bearing in and can’t fit it until tomorrow.

This meant I have just had to do my ET bit and call home. Luckily for me, Mum can pick me up, but it means that she will have to be up early tomorrow to drop me off at work.

I am going to be so popular for that… Not.

Ah well, at least they had the decency to call me before I left and travelled down…

Time to call this quits – I need to get ready to escape…

Back tomorrow.

Karen

Like a broken wheel keeps turnin’,
You ain’t going nowhere,

Now you’ve gotta heal that burnin’,
Or you ain’t got a prayer,
Like a broken wheel

Relieved isn’t the word

I’ve just had the news I wanted to hear… The monster has passed the MOT. And the nasty knocking? A wheel bearing.

Ok – it could have been worse – I thought I had damaged the front suspension strut on the car, as I dropped the little beastie down a pothole. (Thanks a lot for using my road theft (aka road tax) for road repairs WCC!!)  

So, the dealership – (NOT Arbury I have to say) have got the pattern part on order. A price difference of £200 for not having Peugeot stamped on it (not to mention the delay in getting the things sorted out – ok, one whole day, but £200 is £200…)

And why am I not using Arbury after all this time? Simples. I have changed jobs and can’t trust them not to mess the booking up. After all, it took three attempts for them to sort out a dratted timing belt change for Mum’s car…    

First time, they didn’t let us know that they hadn’t got the part until 07:45 the day of the collection. That didn’t go down well… Second time… They forgot to book the car in, which Mum found out after she called them to ask where the driver was, who was supposed to collect the car from home at 08:30. As it was a 5-hr job (and she called them at 11:30) there was no way they could do the job.  

What really annoyed Mum was being told that there was a booking… For the day that they had called to say the part hadn’t arrived.  

Mum pointed out that she had re-booked the car, only to be asked who she spoke to. Not a good move, as it was the person on the phone who had allegedly booked the car in! 

Third time lucky – but only after Mum let loose with a few well-deserved verbal rockets at the so-called service reception.  

OK – the car is now sorted, but shall we say that Mum is less than impressed with them. As she has one more service courtesy of her service plan, the car will go to them for that, but after that… Arbury is no longer looking after the two family Peugeots.

Which is a shame as I have said. I have had my Peugeots looked after them for the past 18 years, and Mum has had her Peugeots looked after them for rather longer than that… Like about 30 something years.  

So now I shall be letting new engineers look after my little monster… Which is a shame, as the team in the Arbury workshop were really good – it was the service “reception” that let them down. And that will not help them in future, as the old saying goes…

“You get good service; you might tell 1 / 2 people about it. Bad service… You tell EVERYONE about it”

And that is what is happening now.

Ah well, time to call this quits – I’m due back from lunch in a few minutes…

Back when I have something else to rant about.

Karen

And now it’s time to cross that river
And show your feelings just before you depart
You know it’s real, you must consider
No good remaining, so hold back the tears
Don’t ever give up the fight

Another podcast....

Listening to another podcast - this time it's the Piers Morgan show - Uncensored.

I know that Piers is a marmite character - you either love him or hate him, but I make no apologies for being one of those that love him as a journalist.  He starts the show with his defence of free speech - and this quote from Winston Churchill was one of the quotes that he used:

So we must beware of a tyranny of opinion which tries to make only one side of a question the one which may be heard. Everyone is in favour of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people’s idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage.

 

Now onto the first show..  It was a block buster of a first interview..  With the former President of the United States - one Donald J. Trump.

Now I freely admit that I am *not* a fan of Trump. I think he was (and is) a repulsive, misogynistic racist bigot.  But I know that there are people who really like him, and would be overjoyed if he ran for the presidency again.

However, I will not dispute that he gives a good interview, and hits the nail on the head for several subjects - one of them being the so called Duke & Duchess of Netflix..  

Ah well, guess I'd better call this quits - I'm falling asleep.

Back when I am a bit more with it...

Karen

I must be sleepwalking

Can't believe that sweet talking

I must be sleepwalking

Can't believe that sweet talking

After the jab

As I write this, I am back at home, having had the spinal jab (or, to give it it's correct medical name Lumbar Radiculopathy).

Yes, it's as scary as the name, and the worst part (for me anyway) was the fact that it was done under local anesthetic.

It should take about 10 / 15 min for the jab...  Unless you're like me - are petrified of needles, have an awkward back, and an unfortunate tendency to breathe at the wrong time.  

Namely when the surgeon is asking for an X-Ray image to make sure the needle is in the right place. Because every time I decided to take a breath was just when the image was taken -  meaning my breathing blurred the image.  Whoops.

But that wasn't the worst part...  I felt really light headed (like I was going to pass out) and at the same time, managed to feel really queasy...  

Not really the best combination when the surgeon needs to make sure that he has got the needle in the right place for the jab.

The theatre staff were wonderful - they made sure that I didn't pass out, and managed to get me to relax enough to stop the queasy feeling.  And the best bit?  Being able to escape home the same day as the jab.  

I know this isn't a fix for the buggered disc - this jab was to stop the pain in my leg (hopefully stop the feeling of super heated barbed wire).  

Once the pain eases in my leg, I can move onto the physio, and hopefully start swimming again.  I know I will have to rebuild the distance that I swim (no aiming for 3k the first time back in the pool), but if this jab helps me get my life back, I will be more than happy. 

And no disrespect to the surgical & care teams - I really don't want to see them again.  One jab in my spine is more than enough for me.

Time to call this quits - my back is aching and I need to try and get some sleep.

Back when I feel less sleepy / bruised / loser in an ass kicking contest.

Karen

Hold on there's a new way a comin'
Looks like it's arriving tonight
There's no more hiding or running
There's no more walking on ice

Waiting for the jab

Well, I am now sitting in St Cross hospital, in the Day Surgery unit.  The nurses are really sweet - unsung heroes the lot of them.

It's really quiet in my bay - just two patients - me and another lady...  So the other  4 bays are empty.  Which suits me as I can sit reading my kindle.

Day surgery bay

Ah well, back to the kindle.  My book is calling...

Back later.

Karen

It's the time to make your play

Take the rose today

It's the time to have your say

Take the whole bouquet

Have no regrets and don't keep hanging on

Now all your yesterdays are gone

New month, new dealership

As I have said in a previous post, I’ve changed jobs. That means that it is no longer viable to use Arbury Leamington. 

Which is a shame in a way, as I have been a customer of Arbury for about 18 years… Now comes the main reason for the change – and it’s not because I no longer work in Leamington…

It was because of the way I was dealt with when I dropped the monster into Arbury to get the battery charging issue looked at by them.

I suspected that things were not going to go well when the monster was booked in. The girl on the service desk was less than helpful, and seemed to go out of her way to make it difficult for me to get a booking…

Mum was kind enough to offer me a lift into work, then go home and pick the monster up, and drop it into Arbury, simply because they couldn’t collect the car until the middle of this month. And I need a reliable car.

Because of Mum dropping me into work, she wouldn’t be able to get the car into Arbury before 10am at the earliest. So, the first time that was offered was 09:00. 

Not possible, as Mum would still be heading home from dropping me off at work (I start at 08:30), and then had to hope that the little horror would start so she could get it into Arbury…

So, she grudgingly made the appointment for 09:50 (I got the feeling she was hoping Mum wouldn’t be able to make it by then, and she could send her away, as she had missed the drop off time.)

Unfortunately for her, I was able to get the day off and drove the monster in myself, with Mum acting as recovery driver. I walked in at 09:30, and the look on her face was priceless. I don’t think she expected me to be able to get in by 09:50.. Let alone 20 minutes early….

I booked the monster in and was told that I was going to be called when the car was ready. OK – not an issue. Until 16:00 comes, and there is no call. So, I call, and am told “oh, the car is still in the workshop – we’ll call you as soon as it’s ready, but we won’t be able to wash it for you.”

I wasn’t worried about the car being washed – I wanted to know if there was an issue with the sodding battery… 16:45 comes, and there's no call… As service closes at 17:30, this is now starting to worry me, especially as traffic in Leamington is a nightmare between 16:30 and 18:00.

I make the decision to get a lift to Arbury… And I am still trying to get through to the service desk whilst Mum is driving. I finally get through at 17:15 (when we are about 10min in Leamington traffic) from the dealership.

“Oh yes – the car is ready. We were going to call you.”

Like hell. So, I walk in, and get the details from the service team, and pay for the diagnosis - the battery has a low charge. 

No, really? I wanted to know if the damned alternator was playing up and not charging the battery… Not be told something that I could have been told my local motor factor store for a lot less money.

Then came the final insult. Once I had the keys, the service team member who had sorted the keys (and the payment) walked out with me to the monster… 

Which had been washed and valeted. And it was obvious that it had been done a while, as the car was dry – not just because it had been wiped down with a chamois leather, but it had been long enough for the car to dry completely.

The scent of fear was in the air, as I just looked at the car, and quietly asked how long it had been ready, as I had been waiting for a call. 

The silence was deafening, and that was the final straw for me.

Now normally, I would have had a feedback form – asking how they had done, was I happy, etc... Not this time. 

Probably for the best, as I would have slated the service reception. The workshop staff are brilliant as normal – but service reception?

I am sorry, but they have gone from outstanding, to needs drastic improvement. And as I am considering a new 208… Well, the Arbury has lost that sale as well as the subsequent servicing that I would have had done.

Ah well, time to call this quits – I need to get my phone on charge as it’s making pathetic beeping noises at me again.

Back when I get chance…

Karen

In these days of no trust

Evermore hostility

We're all living

Under the same old sky

'Cause we're all living

We're telling the same old lie

In these days

In these days

In these days of no trust

Bloody hell. A date at last...

I'm speechless.  Not something that happens very often, I freely admit.  But I finally have a date to get my back sorted out.

I have to have the covid swab test on the Sunday, then isolate until I have the jab (that's a day patient).

So all I have to do now is get myself mentally ready.  And I don't mind admitting I'm scared.  I hate needles, and will be bereft of my beloved kindle, simply because I don't want to risk losing it.

I also have to sort out time off with the office...  But that shouldn't be too difficult as they knew that I was waiting for the jab when I started my 

 role.  

I freely admit I wasn't expecting this, but it's such a relief knowing that I finally have a date and can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  

I just hope that is doesn't turn out the way the late Sir Terry Prattchet used to say...

He’d been wrong, there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and it was a flamethrower.

Time to call this quits - I'm starting to shake.

Back when I can think /  type straight.

Karen

Hold on there's a new way a comin'

Looks like it's arriving tonight

There's no more hiding or running

There's no more walking on ice

The dread battery issue rises from the dead

Yep.  You guessed it.  That sodding battery issue on the monster has reared its ugly head.  Again.  Thankfully, my superstar co-workers at my new company helped me out and jump started the little horror last night, and I have the car booked in with Arbury Peugeot next week.  

But, to be on the safe side, I have the little kick starter kit in the car, in case the little horror decides to repeat the incident from last night.

So this now leaves me with a dilemma..  Do I stick with my little monster (which in fairness to the car, is 6½ years old) and has less than 60k on the trip, or do I let myself be swayed and take the plunge with a new 208.  

Which has more features (I know - more to go wrong) and has updated / better fuel economy, or do I stick with the known car, that is aging, and starting to become unreliable and starting to land me with large garage bills.

And yes - I am getting a feeling of DeJa'Vu with this.  It was the same situation with the 207, and it was the gearbox having major (and expensive) issues that pushed me to go to the 208.  

In fairness, the gearbox is excellent on the 208, but this time, it's the electrical issues that are starting to be annoying (not to mention expensive - the last repair was the main engine fan management control unit that cost me £230!)

There is another fly in the ointment with this as well..  I've changed jobs, and it's a pain in the neck to get to Arbury Leamington, to get the car serviced and MOT'd.  In the past, I would get the car into them for about 08:30 and then walk into work and collect the little monster when I finished at 17:30.  

But now I am working away from the Leamington area, it means that I have to get the car picked up from home and get a lift into work.  Now that might not sound like a major issue, but to me, it is. 

Simply because I am a control freak when it comes to knowing who has driven my little monster - and I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of people who have driven it.  So relinquishing the keys to an unknown driver (ok - they work for Arbury, but that's not the point) is hard for me.

So, do I stick with Arbury (who I have dealt with for the past 18 years), or do I look for a dealership nearer my workplace, as it would be easier to drop the car off and arrange a lift into the office.  Again, it's something that I need to consider. This weekend, there will be a lot of hard thinking about the options - especially the possible change of car (and possibly the dealership).

Ah well, nearly end of lunch, so guess I'd better drag myself into working mode.

Back whenever.

Karen

Search all day, search all night

 for the answers that never betray

Answers that seem to be right

Today's Minion

Karen

Search all day, search all night

Look for the answers that never betray

Answers that seem to be right

Cancelling a concert

And this time, it’s not the dread COVID-19 doing this.  It’s me.  Simply because I cannot guarantee that my back will be sorted, and I have no intention of putting it under anymore stress that it is at the moment.

As it is, it’s already managed to go into spasm this year (ok – Monday) and the language was almost as bad as it was when I suffered the initial injury – in June 2021.

Plus, as I am currently “banned” from driving by the GP and the spinal surgeon, I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to go to the Town Hall in Birmingham the end of March to watch Magnum rocking their home town.  Which would mean me standing (and badly dancing) for a minimum of two hours, plus all the travelling.  Which is a damned shame, as they always put on a good gig.  And they will have two new albums to pull onto the playlist – the excellent The Serpent Rings:

  as well as the new album – The Monster Roars:

Hopefully I will be fit enough to see them in Nottingham at Rock City on 14/09/22 and enjoy the concert in a city (and a venue) that has quite a few good (and definitely drunken) memories.

Ah well, guess I should call this quits - my poor little phone is bleeping at me.  Again.

Back when I get the chance.

Karen

It's another rainy day

Talk of freedom got away

Time to get the message right

It's never black or white

So I'm walking in the rain

Found a reason to explain

No excuses, no regret

We all deserve respect

Getting somewhere at last - and not just the booster...

Well, it's been nearly a week since I started taking the Amitriptyline tablets.  These were originally designed to be an anti-depressant, but as so often happens, they (the pharmaceutical companies) found that it was not very good for the original issue, but it is really good for treating pain.  Specifically neuralgia (nerve pain) as well as migraine.

Now comes the "fun" part.  Like all prescription medication, there are side effects...  And the most common ones are some crackers...  Things like...

Feeling sleepy

Headache

Dry mouth

Nausea

And guess what - I got the lot.  The sleepy part isn't an issue (now) - but for the first few days, all it took was for me to get too comfortable in the bean bag, and bang.  Out cold.  I also found that I was waking up with a headache / dry mouth in the morning, but a bottle of water on my bedside table soon sorted that out.

The worst one was the nausea.  I felt like I'd eaten something (or someone) I didn't agree with, and it was quite unpleasant.  Luckily for me, it was only the one day (and that was the day after my COVID-19 booster - more on that later) but it did knock me for six.

So, at the moment, I won't say I am pain free - far from it.  This dratted medication can take upto 6 weeks to take effect - as my GP said - "don't expect this to work instantly".  I'm not that daft, but have to admit that things are getting slightly easier...  Especially when I use my Smokin' Joints Warming Shea Butter Skin Balm.  

This little miracle pot has really helped me, and I know when I haven't used it.  My back hurts (ok - more than it does normally with the slipped disc) and it seems to help with the pain in my leg.  I don't know if it was because I gave the leg a damned good massage rubbing this stuff in (my thigh muscles were twitching like they were wired to the mains) but it seemed to help and allowed me to get some sleep.

Now onto the booster.  I had already got this booked for January 6th at Walsgrave Hospital...  Ok, not an issue.  Then my GP practise sends me a text message to say that I can get jabbed closer to home - and a lot sooner.  Like a month earlier.  

Needless to say that was a no brainer - of course I was going to take the jab.  This new COVID-19 variant is scary, and blazing a trail through the population.  

So, Mum kindly took me to what I jokingly referred to as "jab central" on Saturday afternoon for my appointment with the needle.  Now my appointment was 15:40 - I was jabbed and escaped by then.

How did I manage?  Simple.  I got to the clinic early, and was pulled in early.  Medical history checked ("Are you allergic to anything?  Yes - work and injections")  Being serious though, I showed the team my medic alert and clarified that I knew what I was allergic to as I carried the epi-pen.  

I was then given the Pfizer jab as my first two jabs were the Astra-Zenica.  20 minutes later, and I am escaping for home, with a slightly sore arm.

As I write (ok type this) my arm still feels sore / slight lump where I had the jab, but to be honest, I am glad I had this done early, as it will hopefully reduce the severity of any infection...

Ah well, my kindle is calling me - I want to see what happens to Edwin Winthrop in Kim Newman's book  - The Bloody Red Baron 

Back when I get chance...

Karen

The future was planned and now we must crawl

Let justice be damned, they've taken it all

Now things that you read, you've seen it before

Like brothers we stand, they've fooled us once more

New variant COVID-19, and it's back to home working....

Well, Bo-jo has spoken,  Again.   We're back to home working as of Monday, unless you cannot work from home.

Which is pretty good going for me - I've been working at home since I damaged my back, so in reality, that change has meant nothing to me - it's my normal routine.  And, there have been more restrictions brought in - including wearing masks in more places, and the so-called vaccine passport to go into nightclubs.

Again, this won't make any real difference to me, as I do wear my mask on the rare occasions that I escape, and clubbing?  Can't remember the last time I went clubbing.  Think the closest I managed was going to see Magnum at the Parr Hall in 2019...  Before we even knew that Covid existed.

But, if I am honest, I can see the UK being back in another lockdown after Christmas / New Year, as people will have been mixing, and this dratted bug will have taken the  opportunity to spread even more.

Ah well, time to call this quits - my phone is beeping at me again.

Back when I get the inclination...

Karen

It's another rainy day
Talk of freedom got away
Time to get the message right
It's never black or white
So I'm walking in the rain
Found a reason to explain
No excuses, no regret
We all deserve respect

And the verdict is.......

Just had the call from the SWIMs team.  The verdict is in - I have dodged the scalpel.  

I'm to be put on the waiting list for the Lumbar radiculopathy aka Nerve root block / foraminal epidural injection as well as being referred to physiotherapy.

To say that I am relieved to avoid the surgery is an understatement.  The GP has also prescribed me the recommended tablets for nerve pain, but has told me that there may be side effects (as in I may feel drowsy - so take it before I crawl into my pit) and that the tablets may cause me to throw up.  If that happens, stop taking them and then call the surgery to see if there is a suitable alternative.

Equally, I have been told not to expect instant results.  That wasn't something I had considered - as far as I am concerned, I need to give the tablets time to kick in and see if they work - if they don't then I can talk to the GP and get a revision of the doseage..  As in it may have to go higher from the inital 10mg...

Ah well,time to call this quits - I want to get back to my kindle.

Back when I get the inclination...

Karen

Like a broken wheel stops turning

You ain't going nowhere

Now you've got to heal that burning

Or you ain't got a prayer

Like a broken wheel

Waiting for the Surgeon’s decision

Well, I’ve had the examination, and it’s been confirmed that there is damage to my back, as well as nerve damage – which explains the feeling of super-heated barbed wire running down the outside of my leg, as well as the lack of feeling in my shin.  This tied in with the scan results, meaning that I now have to await the surgeon’s verdict.  The SWIMS team (South Warwickshire Integrated Muscular Skeletal team) have a good relationship with the surgeon who is based at Walsgrave and will discuss the findings of my examination with him at the next meeting.

OK – so in a way I am a little further forward, but in a way, I am still stuck.  I still can’t drive and am still in pain.  I just wish that someone had thought to look at the referral before now and realise that I was *not* improving from the initial injury / incident and pulled things forward.  But I know the excuse – COVID-19.  Which is a wonderful (if overused) excuse in my eyes.  Yes, I know that this virus has had an impact on the NHS – I am the last person to knock them, but it annoys the hell out of me when I get told that I should have gone straight to A&E when this happened.

Congratulations.  They would have done an x-ray (which wouldn’t have shown anything) and then sent me home with a load of pain killers and instructions to rest.  Disc prolapse does not show on an X-ray, and the symptoms could have been caused by a back strain.

But, done is done, and there’s no point getting depressed about it.  Yes – I am down – because I am in pain, and am seriously frustrated, but at least I know things are moving in the right direction.  Now all I have to do is wait for the surgeon to decide what needs to happen, and take it from there.

Ah well, time to call this quits, my poor little phone is making pathetic beeping noises as the battery is almost flat.  Again.

Back when I get chance.

Karen

When things never happen like you wanted

Dark nights always keep you in the shade

Some words would be better left unspoken

No joke there's a price that must be paid

Waiting for the hospital appointment

As I type this, I am just about 17 hours away from finding out just what I am going to have to do to get my life back.  I still can’t drive (which is *really* pissing me off now) and it looks like I have three options:

1. Physiotherapy
2. Steroid injections in my back
3. Surgery to shave the offending disc

But I will freely admit that I am scared.

Needless to say I don’t like options 2 / 3 – I hate needles and surgery?  Having my knee operated on was one thing – if it went wrong, I limped.  But my back?  That has the potential to do real damage to me.  But, I am not ruling anything out, especially if it means that I get my life back – and I can drive.

 Time to call this quits – my kindle is calling to me, and I want to lose myself in my book.

 Back tomorrow when I know what’s going on (I hope)

Karen

Now I’ll tell you how I feel
I’m lost, feeling second-hand
Do you treasure what you steal?
Can you tell me where you stand?

The verdict is in - my back is screwed

Well, I've had the results of the MRI scan....  And I have really done a number on my back.  

I have a prolapsed disc between the L3 / L4 vertebrae, and now have the scary prospect of going to the hospital for further discussions about my treatment.

At the moment, it looks like I may be referred to the spinal surgeon in Coventry, and this could mean I either have injections to reduce the inflammation, or worse case scenario (in my eyes) I have surgery to shave the offending disc.

To say I am scared / relieved is an understatement.  Scared, because I don't want to have surgery if I can help it, but relieved to know finally, what the hell I have done.  

Ah well, time to call this quits - I need to get away from a screen.

Back when I get chance

Karen

Now I’ll tell you how I feel

I’m lost, feeling second-hand

Do you treasure what you steal?

Can you tell me where you stand?

Glowing in the dark

Well, I’ve had the MRI scan on my back.  Now all I have to do is wait for the results – which should (with a following wind for the carrier pigeon) be with the GP in about 2 weeks or so.

Trying to get booked in was something of a farce.  The letter sent to me from Stratford hospital said that I had to report to Building 2, 20 minutes before the scan.  OK – not an issue.  Well – not until I walked (or in my case hobbled) into the reception.  Which had a sign on it saying that the X-Ray reception had been moved to Building 1.  So I grumbled and hobbled across to the other building.  

Only for the X-Ray reception to be closed.  I wasn’t the only patient who had this same issue – another patient was there, as their scan was at 08:00 (and this was now 08:10).  Luckily for both of us, a very kind member of staff from the X-ray department booked us both in, and told us that we should report to Building 2, as there was someone now manning the reception.

The first patient (who was due to be scanned at 08:00) was booked in, and whisked off to have the scan.  That wasn’t a problem, but I did wish that I had my kindle with me, but luckily for me, I had my phone with me and that has the kindle app on it.  So I was happily buried in my book (poor choice of words I guess as I was reading Wensley Clarkson’s book on Harold Shipman – Evil Beyond Belief) when I was called into discuss the brief form that I had to fill in before the scan.

This had questions about my general health (did I have any metallic implants – yes – in my left knee, but as this was done 25+ years ago, this wasn’t an issue), questions about tattoos (no chance – I’m scared of needles!) and one that wasn’t on the form.  Did I have asthma.  Yes.  Ok – not an issue – was it under control?  Yes.  

I must have looked puzzled by this question, and it turned out that certain types of asthma are aggravated by lying flat.  Mine isn’t so it was then off to the trailer where the scanner was located.  The last time I saw this, it was located at Warwick hospital…

The scan itself wasn’t too bad – I got put into what looked like a plastic tube, on a mechanical sliding bed.  I was given ear plugs (which were not much use at all, as I couldn’t get the damned things to fit) and then had the positioning pads to keep my head in one place.  I was also given what looked like a partially inflated balloon to hold in my right hand.  

This was the so-called “panic button” – the idea being that I could squeeze it and someone would come and pop me out of the scanner.  This is because it is somewhat claustrophobic in the scanner.  Me?  I decided to use my meditation practice, and spent the entire time quietly meditating and ignoring the strange clunking noises that the scanner was making.

Before I knew it, the scan was over and done with, and the radiographer was amazed that I was able to stay so still.  Apparently most patients did wriggle about at bit, so me staying still was something of a surprise.  But I did ask one question about the scanner – the different noises that I heard whilst I was being scanned.  It turned out that this was something to do with the different images that were required.

Once this was done, I was able to head for home, and I will admit that I was looking forward to getting home and sitting in a comfortable chair.  Or in my case, a bean bag.

I ordered one in navy from Amazon, and freely admit it is really comfortable.  OK - getting out of the thing isn't exactly elegant (you sort of roll out onto your knees), but to be honest, I really don't care as it's comfortable.

Ah well, guess I should call this quits - my bean bag is calling, and my poor little phone is making pathetic beeping noises.

Back whenever,

Karen

The Moonking is waiting again

And maybe he'll welcome you in

To ride on a warm solar wind

Back where your dreams can begin

The Moonking is calling again

But never a sound to be heard

So up through a bright silver sky

Waiting but never deterred